‘PCMC stonewalling BJP corporator’s disqualification’

ST Correspondent

Tuesday, 24 April 2018

It may be recalled that following the cancellation of Gaikwad’s caste certificate by divisional caste verification committee of Buldhana in August last year, then PCMC commissioner Shravan Hardikar had disqualified him. However, Gaikwad succeeded in obtaining a stay from the High Court on his disqualification and sought another six months for submission of the evidence supporting his caste claim.

Pimpri: Shiv Sena candidate Nitin Rokade who is a rival of BJP corporator Kundan Gaikwad has questioned PCMC’s stand alleging that by not pursuing Gaikwad’s case in the High Court, the civic body is helping the ruling party’s corporator.

It may be recalled that following the cancellation of Gaikwad’s caste certificate by divisional caste verification committee of Buldhana in August last year, Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) Commissioner Shravan Hardikar had disqualified him. However, Gaikwad succeeded in obtaining a stay from High Court on his disqualification and sought another six months for submission of the evidence supporting his caste claim.

However, the six months period is over and Gaikwad continues to remain in the post. Hence, the PCMC commissioner last week asked the municipal secretary’s office to initiate a procedure for disqualification.

Rokade said, “The PCMC is favouring him just because he is a ruling party corporator.”

Gaikwad got elected as a corporator on a seat reserved for Scheduled Caste from ward number 1 of Chikhali. He had submitted the caste certificate mentioning his caste as Kaikadi, which falls under DTNT category. He had also sought the caste validation certificate from the committee in Buldhana. Rokade who lost to Gaikwad had objected to his caste claim.

Based on Rokade’s objection, the committee sought documents supporting Kundan Gaikwad’s caste. After going through the documentary evidence submitted by Gaikwad, the committee cancelled his caste certificate and declared that Gaikwad does not belong to the Scheduled Caste category.

The committee had given its final order for cancellation of caste certificate of Gaikwad, who hails from Solapur district. He has procured government land in Pune claiming that he belongs to DTNT, which was also brought to the notice of the committee.

It has asked vigilance squad attached to the caste validation committee to initiate action against Gaikwad, besides invoking all benefits he has taken as a Scheduled Caste candidate.Sena city unit chief Yogesh Babar said, “Instead of taking action, the complainant is being pressurised by Gaikwad’s supporters.”